YouB次元官网网址檇 think it was a rock concert.

Around noon, over 500 people anxiously waited for the Johnson Street Bridge to officially open.

Members of the crowd had to be reminded to stand back, as they weaved around each other, straining their necks to capture a glimpse of the new bridge.

Construction on the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the City of Victoria began in May 2013.

The new bridge will support 30,000 crossings a day including vehicles, local transit, pedestrians, and cyclists.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been waiting ten years for this, so another ten minutes wonB次元官网网址檛 kill us,B次元官网网址� said Amanda Shultz, who waited patiently among the crowd.

Food trucks, coffee stands, musicians and vintage cars lined the streets to entertain the revelers as they waited.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 fantastic, a long time coming,B次元官网网址� said Harold Sleunwhite who has lived in Victoria for 36 years.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 come downtown often but when I do itB次元官网网址檚 always this route. It will definitely help rush hour traffic.B次元官网网址�

Sleunwhite offered a unique suggestion for what to do with the old Blue BridgeB次元官网网址攅ven though it has new, offshore owners. He said, B次元官网网址淚f they were to cut some pieces out of it and give it to a sculpture to make something decent, it would stand as a memory for a lifetime.B次元官网网址�

Mayor Lisa Helps officiated the opening and thanked the long list of people involvedB次元官网网址攆rom the project manager to the builders.

Mayor Helps specifically thanked the Songhees nation elders who blessed the bridge, adding, B次元官网网址淚 wonder and worry about all the other bridges that havenB次元官网网址檛 been blessed.B次元官网网址�

People cheered and clapped during the 90 seconds it took for the bridge to be lowered. Then, as a community, the crowd walked over the bridge, taking photos and marveling at the structure.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 100 years looking into the future and itB次元官网网址檚 a really exciting day. This marks not only the completion of the bridge but VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 future,B次元官网网址� Mayor Helps told Victoria B次元官网网址.

B次元官网网址淭his bridge project got off to a bit of a rocky start and we brought it back under control. What we see now is a different way of doing current projects B次元官网网址� like the fire hall and Crystal PoolB次元官网网址� So itB次元官网网址檚 a lesson learned and going forward weB次元官网网址檙e taking a different approach to those projects which I think will fare very well.B次元官网网址�

Jeremy Loveday was excited to see this project finally come to fruition. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a new chapter in the CityB次元官网网址檚 future. Say goodbye to the old Blue Bridge and the memories it holds, and say hello to this next chapter,B次元官网网址� he told Victoria B次元官网网址.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 glad the local First Nations have played a role in opening this bridge and they have blessed it, and I look forward to moving forward with them in a good way.B次元官网网址�

The public seemed very pleased with the outcome of the project B次元官网网址� over 100 million dollars and 10 years in the making.

As a group of tourists, unaware of the eventB次元官网网址檚 significance, headed down the side pathway of the structure, a local man excitedly corrected them, B次元官网网址淐B次元官网网址檓on, man, donB次元官网网址檛 you know thereB次元官网网址檚 a new bridge?B次元官网网址�.

The community celebration will continue until 5 p.m. At 9 p.m. the bridge is expected to open to traffic.

Read our five-part series on the project, B次元官网网址楤ridging the GapB次元官网网址�, by Tim Collins starting

anna.james@vicnews.com